Ilkley Community Network is appealing for local people to get involved and help support the many community, charity and fundraising events that take place across Ilkley throughout the year.
From established favourites such as the Ilkley Carnival, Ilkley Half Marathon and Christmas celebrations to exciting ideas for brand-new events, volunteers play an important part in making these occasions possible.
And you don’t have to commit to everything – volunteers can simply choose when and where they would like to help.
Could you lend a hand?
There are opportunities to volunteer at events and activities throughout the year, including:
- Ilkley Beer Festival
- Ilkley Carnival
- Ilkley Duck Race
- Ilkley Pride
- Ilkley Cycle Race
- Ilkley Half Marathon
- Ilkley Yorkshire Day
- Ilkley Live
- Ilkley Business Awards
- Ilkley Flower Show
- Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival
- Christmas Lights Switch-On and Lantern Parade
- Ilkley Holly Ball
Local organisations including Rotary and Round Table rely on volunteers to help organise and run many of these events.
Whether you can spare a few hours occasionally, would like to help behind the scenes, or want to become more involved in community life, Ilkley Community Network would love to hear from you.
Could Ilkley have its own Pram Race?
One of the new ideas currently being explored by The Rotary Club of Ilkley is a fun race around the town involving teams competing with either a pram or wheelbarrow.
The idea is for an inclusive, entertaining event where participants can dress up, have fun and compete regardless of sporting ability – while raising money for good causes.
The longer-term ambition is to develop an event inspired by the hugely successful Knaresborough Bed Race, which attracts thousands of spectators and raises substantial sums for charities.
Organisers believe an Ilkley event could provide another great day for the town while benefiting local charities, businesses and the wider community.
Rotary would particularly like to hear from people or businesses interested in:
- Sponsoring the event
- Helping to organise it
- Entering a team
- Volunteering on the day
- Sharing ideas or feedback about the proposal
Anyone interested in the proposed Pram/Wheelbarrow Race can contact Chris Woodhead at woodheadc52@gmail.com.
Join Ilkley’s volunteer network
Ilkley Community Network is also building a database of people who would be happy to hear about volunteering opportunities for events throughout the year.
Joining the database doesn’t mean committing to every event. You can decide when, where and how often you would like to help.
To register your interest, contact David Shaw MBE, Chair of Ilkley Community Network, at davidshawmbe@outlook.com or call 07740 797 281.
Ilkley Community Network brings together the town’s voluntary and community organisations, local businesses and representatives from Ilkley and Bradford councils, helping improve communication, coordinate activities and work towards shared goals for the benefit of the town.
Local voluntary and community organisations can also add their details to the Ilkley Community Network online directory.
